iContainers is an online logistics platform optimized to help your business easily access the global trade environment. We digitalize international freight forwarding services to simplify global logistics & facilitate trade.
India and the USA have strong trade relationships. In 2022, India exported $85.5 billion in goods to the USA, a 16.7% increase from $12.2 billion the previous year. If you want to take advantage of this and ship your Indian goods to the USA, here’s your complete guide to your ocean and air freight shipping options.
Your options for shipping freight from India to the USA are ocean freight and air freight.
Ocean freight is the most flexible and cost-effective mode of shipping freight from India to the USA. It allows you to choose between two container shipping options depending on your cargo's requirements and budget. These are less than container load and full container load.
LCL is an economical way to ship small volumes of goods. Here, your goods will be consolidated with cargo belonging to other shippers, so you only need to pay for the space your cargo occupies.
On the other hand, FCL accommodates larger volumes of cargo. In FCL, you rent the space in an entire container for your goods alone, giving you more control and security for your shipment.
Another way to ship goods from India to the USA is air freight. This shipping mode is the fastest way to get goods to their destination in two weeks at most. Air freight is also secure, with stricter airport regulations providing security for high-value goods.
However, air freight is expensive because of higher fuel costs. Still, it’s a small price to pay if time is your priority.
The cost of shipping cargo from India to the USA will depend on a few factors, which include:
Determine your shipping costs by using our online freight costs calculator. The table below shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from India to the US:
TRADE LANE RATES
The transit time for goods shipped from India to the USA depends mainly on the international shipping mode you select. Additional factors influencing the transit time are:
Ocean freight from India to the USA will take anywhere between 15 to 50 days.
Air freight from India to the USA will take 2 to 8 business days.
For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.
When your goods arrive in the USA, they will need to go through the customs clearance process. This requires that you prepare and submit the following documents to US customs authorities:
Look at our documents list for more information about these customs clearance requirements.
Before you decide on a shipping option for your India to USA shipment, here are some things you need to consider to make the right decision.
Ocean freight is the best shipping option if you are on a budget. It’s economical and allows you to ship a range of cargo types. It also gives you the option of choosing between LCL and FCL shipping.
Less than container load is ideal for you if your cargo is:
Full container load may be the container shipping option for you if your cargo is:
Air freight is for shippers who need to get their cargo to the USA fast. It’s also for those who need security for their cargo, such as those shipping high-value goods. It’s worth noting, however, that air freight can get expensive. Plus, it has stricter regulations about what you can and cannot ship.
The Kandla Port in Gujarat, India, is close to the Special Economic Zone KASEZ, the first and biggest SEZ in Asia. The port is important for trading petroleum and gas from the Gulf as well as salt and textiles.
The Mumbai Port is one of the most well-known ports in India. It has a long history dating back to 300 years ago, established in the 17th century. Today, the port handles general and bulk cargo, seeing 62.9 million metric tonnes annually.
The Hazira Port is one of India's biggest import and export centers. It is most notable for its role in petroleum and LNG trade. It’s also hailed as the most advanced port in the country. The Hazira Port handles 1 million TEUs per year.
The Port of Seattle is the fifth-busiest port in the USA and the second-busiest on the West Coast. It’s a reliable transport hub to ship to East Asian countries.
The Port of Houston is the fastest-developing American port. It ranks seventh in the USA by total amount of cargo. The port handles 70% of the container traffic on the US Gulf Coast.
The Port of Miami is the closest harbor to the Panama Canal. This, along with other factors, makes it the only port in the US that can handle neo-Panamax vessels.
The Chennai International Airport serves the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is the fifth busiest airport in the country, serving as a hub for ndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, Alliance Air, and more. It handles 342.74 thousand metric tons of goods per year.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport serves Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is located 24 kilometers south of the city center. The airport handles 142.43 thousand metric tons of goods per year.
The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport serves Kolkata, India, and its metropolitan region. It is considered the primary aviation hub for eastern and northeastern India. The airport handles approximately 136.02 thousand metric tons of goods per year.
The John F Kennedy International Airport serves the major US city of New York. It is considered the busiest of the seven airports in New York and the sixth busiest in the USA. The airport serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, American Airlines, and more.
The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport serves the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex and the north of Texas. It is a hub for American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Envoy Air, and more, handling 3.9 billion points in freight annually.
The Oakland International Airport is located in Oakland, California, 7 miles south of downtown Oakland and 12 miles east of San Francisco. It primarily serves the east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The airport is a hub for popular courier FedEx Express.
About Us
Shipping cargo involves multiple factors, including the season, the size of the shipment, the shipping method, and the origin and destination points.
Leveraging years of industry experience, iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services with modern technological enhancements for customer convenience. Our digital platform lets you manage your shipment—from requesting a quote to booking and tracking your cargo—all from your mobile device.
Contact us anytime for a free quote. We are always ready to give you the information you need.